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Distribution:

Global (Wetterer 2005):
In tropical Asia and tropical islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, A. gracilipes
occurs throughout the moist lowlands, but is not commonly found in arid
regions and sites above 1200 m elevation. In tropical Africa, it is
known only from Dar es Salaam and nearby Zanzibar. In tropical
Australia, A. gracilipes has been recorded primarily from moist
monsoon rainforests along perennial springs and streams in the northern
region and in a few towns on the north and east coasts. In the
Neotropics, there are records of A. gracilipes from western Mexico. In subtropical Asia, A. gracilipes ranges up to 26-27N in
northern India, southern China, and southern islands of Japan. I found
only six records from latitudes >27, two from exterminated urban
populations (Auckland, New Zealand; Brisbane, Australia) and three from
probably temporary populations (Valparaso, Chile; Durban, South Africa;
Zayul, Tibet). The sixth population, on Amami-Oshima Island, Japan, may
or may not be temporary. Anoplolepis gracilipes is not yet known from many moist
lowland tropical areas where it would probably thrive, including
west-central Africa and much of the Neotropics. Populations in western
Mexico are prevented from expanding eastward by a central mountain
range, but may be able to spread south, around the mountains, to the
Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Records from arid Baja
California, Mexico indicate that A. gracilipes can invade and persist in areas with arid climates, perhaps due to moderating effects of irrigation.

Biology:

According to the IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group A. gracilipes is among the 100 most
pervasive and destructive invasive species in the world (Lowe, et al., 2000), and is most notably
implicated in the 'ecological meltdown' of Christmas Island (O'Dowd, et al.,
2001;2003).
Introduced populations of Anoplolepis
gracilipes can exhibit unicolonial behavior by forming multiple, populous
high-density supercolonies. On Christmas Island, A. gracilipes was recorded to achieve the highest density of
foraging ants ever recorded (Abbott, 2005). Colonies are polydomous and
polygynous and disperse by budding. Nests occasionally hosting hundreds of
queens and thousands of workers. The species has generalized foraging and
nesting habits, and often achieve high densities in agricultural landscapes.
Part of the species invasion success has been attributed to its strong
mutualisms with nectar and honeydew producing insects like scales and aphids.

Identification:

Anoplolepis gracilipes is a large, slender,
brownish yellow species most easily identified by it extraordinarily long
limbs. The antennal scapes are greater than 1.5x the head length, and the full
antennae are longer than the entire body from the apical tip of the mandibles
to the distal tip of the gaster. The head is ovoid and distinctly longer than
broad. The antennae are 11-segmented and the mandibles have 8 teeth. The eyes
are large and bulge well beyond the outline of the head in full face view. The
mesosoma is long and slender. The pronotum in particular, is extended
anteriorly giving the appearance of a long 'neck'. The mesonotal dorsum slopes
downward towards the propodeum. The propodeum is gently rounded and convex,
with approximately equal posterior and dorsal faces. The petiolar node is thick
and upright with a longer posterior face than anterior face. The gaster is
armed with an acidopore and tends to be darker than the rest of the body.

Among introduced ants, Anoplolepisgracilipes might be mistaken for Paratrechina longicornis
(the Black Crazy Ant), which also has very long antennae and legs and eyes
that break the outline of the head in full face view. In addition to the
difference in color, A. gracilipes can also be distinguished by the lack
of erect hairs on the mesosoma, petiole and gaster. Anoplolepis gracilipes can
also be mistaken for species of Leptomyrmex and Oecophylla
because of their similar sizes and very long limbs. Anoplolepis can be
distinguished from Leptomyrmex by the
presence of an acidopore. Anoplolepis can be distinguished from Oecophylla
by the more compact petiole.

Diagnosis among introduced and commonly intercepted ants.Antenna 11-segmented. Antennal club indistinct. Antennal scape length greater than 1.5x head length. Eyes large; break outline of head. Antennal sockets and posterior clypeal margin separated by a distance equal to or greater than the minimum width of antennal scape. Dorsum of mesosoma with metanotal impression, but never with a deep and broad concavity. Metapleuron with a distinct gland orifice. Propodeum and petiolar node both lacking a pair of short teeth. Propodeum lacking posteriorly projecting protrusion. Propodeal declivity less than twice length of propodeal dorsum. Waist 1-segmented. Petiole upright and not appearing flattened. Gaster armed with acidopore. Distinct constriction not visible between abdominal segments 3+4. Hairs not long thick and produced in pairs. Yellowish-brown to reddish-brown. Monomorphic.

Male identification among New World Formicinae
Antenna 12-merous; mandible with 8-9 denticles, with one or two offset denticles on basal margin; maxillary palps longer than maximum compound eye length; scape more
than twice head length; compound eyes situated at about head midlength.

Taxon Page Author History

Specimen Habitat Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 67 times found in dry forest, 46 times found in coastal forest, 35 times found in mangrove, 8 times found in Rainforest, 2 times found in sugar cane field, 12 times found in Secondary forest, 3 times found in port of entry/city, 6 times found in degraded dry forest, 10 times found in Disturbed forest, 6 times found in coastal scrub, ...

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